The 8th Annual Western States Single Stack Championship

The 8th Annual WSSSC concluded this past weekend, January 30-31, at Rio Salado Sportsmans Club in Mesa Arizona. This year 235 competitors brought out their classic John Browning 1911′s to compete in one of the best Single Stack matches held anywhere.

Taran Butler was crowned the winner of the match by a mere 1.9419 points over second place Rob Leatham. Rob had the match in hand until a second visit to the chronograph bumped him down to minor causing Rob to lose 61 match points.

Talking with Rob after the match he stated, “It was my fault, I grabbed ammo that was loaded for my 6″ Limited 10 gun. I just wasn’t paying attention.”

Shooter check your gun

Rob wasn’t the only competitor to go minor in the match. Each year several competitors learn that at the Western States Single Stack you had better weigh your gun, check to make sure it fits in the box, that your power factor is as you’ve declared, and that your magazines, pouches and holsters are correct, because at WSSSC they will be checked.

While Taran didn’t shoot his best match he did just enough to hold off 3rd Place Michael Voigt by 50 match points. When Rob was bumped to minor Taran was close enough to slip into 1st place by the mere equivalent of a single D zone hit, of which Rob had few.

Top Lady

Sara Dunivin was the Top Lady, followed closely by Kippi Leatham, and Lisa Munson who is now shooting for Team Camerons Custom Guns, was third. This was Sara’s first WSSSC, congratulations to Sara for her win.

Although the stages were prominently field course stages, a 12 round speed shoot, and a 3 string standards stage helped balance out the movement stages. An especially pesky 8 inch plate at 30 yards on stage 2 was the nemesis of several shooters including Angus Hobdell who clanged the angle iron post holding the plate at least 4 times before finally knocking down the plate, forcing a standing reload.

Once again the match directors, Steve Horsman, Rich Mackay, Dave Sabia, Kyle Schmidt and Polle Blanton put on a great match. Thanks to all the sponsors who support the match including Springfield Armory and Safariland.

Follow this link to a gallery of images from the match from James Scott Photography. You can use the Share button to share your images on your Facebook page or Twitter feed. You can also order prints or digital downloads by adding them to the shopping cart. Small digital downloads suitable for displaying on your website or in your Facebook gallery are $1.00 each.

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